Specialty license plates...

[robeiae]

How many kinds of speciality tags do we need? Frankly, I'm sick of them...all of them. "Save this," "save that," this college, that college, veteran, antique, pro sports teams, bleck!

And now--in Florida--this silliness:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/02/fla-legislator.html

Personally, the flag as a piece of history doesn't bother me. And I see emblems and bumper stickers with it all the time. But on a license plate? And for a surcharge to fund some private group? Gimme a break.

Now, such plates are already available in nine other states (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Confederate_Veterans#License_plates). So, it's hardly a new thing. But it's still a stupid thing, imo.

[Plot Device]

Cops absolute hate these two modern (as in the past 25 years) facts about American license plates:

1) Some states only have a rear plate instead of both front and rear. This makes it very hard to get the plate number on a moving vehicle.

2) Some states have over a dozen "speaciality" plates with exotic images and color paletes, making it difficult to identify which state the plate oringates from.

Florida isn't so bad, No! I take it back! Florida is the worst! (see POST #21 below!)and the fact that Florida designates the counties on their plates can be very helpful. But Pennsylvania is inexcusable as far as how diverse the color schemes and even the font styles are on their plates. In fact, about eight eyars ago, one Pennsylvania legislator stood up in the state senate and made an angry speech about it all where he concluded by sarcasticaly suggesting: "Why don't we have the DMV just hand out blank sheets of metal and a box ful of magic markers and let people make up anything they want?"

[Bird of Prey]

When I went to vehicle registration, I could hardly believe the selection of license plates on the back board. I just got a "regular" plate, but even then, I had a choice. Would I like the name of my county or The Sunshine State?

The Confederate flag seems contentious and making donations toward the cause/education/descendants of Confederate soldiers doesn't seem to serve the greater interests of the public in 2008.

[dobiwon]

I just checked the Virginia DMVs website. There are over 180 different plates available, with more coming soon. By my count there are more than 80 different plates just for various colleges and universities.

[Bartholomew]

Please tell me this isn't funded by tax money.

Please, please, please.

[Joe270]

I always wanted the one from Texas which has the 'Horny Toad' on it.

I felt it was somehow apropos.

Still, I agree that they are confusing. In NV, there are many different plates. It does make it difficult to read the plate.

Then there are the darn vanity plates. I've seen one in Vegas:

"BMWGIRL" was the plate. . .on a Mercedes.

[RLB]

Then there are the darn vanity plates.

Those are the worst. Do people not realize the amount of ridicule to which they open themselves when they get those stupid things?

[dobiwon]

Please tell me this isn't funded by tax money.

Please, please, please.Okay, I'll tell you, since you asked so nicely.

There's a $20 -$25 fee for the specialty plates. In some cases, there's an annual fee, part of which goes to the organization (e.g., college, charity, or non-profit group). For vanity plates, where you can choose the wording, there is a yearly fee, which would be in addition to all other fees. Some people are paying 3-4 times as much as the minimum to have their say.

[Plot Device]

Okay, I'll tell you, since you asked so nicely.

There's a $20 -$25 fee for the specialty plates. In some cases, there's an annual fee, part of which goes to the organization (e.g., college, charity, or non-profit group). For vanity plates, where you can choose the wording, there is a yearly fee, which would be in addition to all other fees. Some people are paying 3-4 times as much as the minimum to have their say.


We are so much into being all individualized here in America. The current expectations for cell phone diversity (not just colors but ring tones also) is one more example of that cultural staple. Poeple want their phones to match their personalities, coordinate with their clothing, and still allow them to stand out as somehow unique and different from everyone else around them.

But the license plates on our cars should first and foremost serve the purpose they were crafted for: identifying vehicles to law enforcemet officials. The current sea of differentiation found in license plates of any given tri-state area is so vast that police officers need to be as well-versed in all the variations of those three states worth of plates as a bird watcher needs to be on the avian population of his region. This is an unfair and needless burden that officers face and it DOES interfere with their ability to ID a car. So I say this nonsense needs to stop.

[robeiae]

I understand special plates will now be issued for illegal aliens and people with suspended driver's licenses. For record-keeping only; law enforcement may not utilize the information. That would be wrong.

[Bird of Prey]

I understand special plates will now be issued for illegal aliens and people with suspended driver's licenses. For record-keeping only; law enforcement may not utilize the information. That would be wrong.


Lol!!

[BenPanced]

I know a guy who got a vanity plate with his first name and last initial so the other cute guys out there would already know his name when they stopped to chat him up.

Swear to ghod.

[Jersey Chick]

Those are the worst. Do people not realize the amount of ridicule to which they open themselves when they get those stupid things?

The most memorable one I've ever seen read: 68 U O ME 1

I thought it was kind of funny. ;)

[eldragon]

I have never had anything other than the standard issue license plate.

The reason? I've always been poor and cheap. Extras cost extra.

Otherwise, I'd take the bird one.

[InfinityGoddess]

Personally? I take no issue with specialty plates if they are for a good cause, like donating to cancer research, environmental causes, and the Humane Society. But "Confederate Pride"? Gimme a break.

[dobiwon]

I know a guy who got a vanity plate with his first name and last initial so the other cute guys out there would already know his name when they stopped to chat him up.

Swear to ghod.Reminds me of the two I saw, both on the same day:

BLU CAR (on a blue Taurus)
and
MY CAR

Brilliant use of money!

[NikeeGoddess]

it's no different then stamps

besides, those dudes locked up in prison need something to do. they're bored with the generic plates and want to be creative. ;)

[benbradley]

A year or two ago in Georgia there were "share the road" plates made, as petitioned by local bicyclists and triathletes. I think it was required to get 1,000 signups for the plates to be made before the state would have the plates made. This at least helps awareness that bicyclists have rights on the roads.

Here's an interesting thing: Florida now has University of Georgia "Bulldogs" plates available, and I think Georgia was talking about making "Gator" or whatever plates available...

[III]

The one that made me want to ram the woman in the Mercedes:

WAS HIS

[Plot Device]

Here's what Pennsylvania's "normal" plates looked like over the years.

http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_PA_GI7_1970's-today.jpg









And here are all the "speciality plates" CURRENTLY AVAILABLE in the Keystone State.

Good luck to all the police officers not only in Pennsylvania itself, but all the states bordering it (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio).

http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_PA_SI.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_PA_OT.jpg

[Plot Device]

And here's the current state of affairs in FLORIDA!!!!

http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_OT.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SI1.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SI2.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SI3.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SI4.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SIS.jpg
http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SIU.jpg

[WarrenP]

I am all for these plates. Any way the government can raise revenue (I'm lumping all together, government, cancer funding, university, etc..) with it being the choice of the citizens versus taken from their earnings is positive to me.

[Gina_Marie]

Holy Snikee thats a lot of FL plates!

Hmm. I say if they really want to do it, go for it, no matter how dumb they are.

[Jenan Mac]

That doesn't even show the version of Challenger plate that looks like a giant penis.

[Plot Device]

That doesn't even show the version of Challenger plate that looks like a giant penis.

How about the first one:


http://www.worldlicenceplates.com/jpglps/USA_FL_SI4.jpg

[Jenan Mac]

No, there's another one. It's even more phallic than the original-- sort of sticking up at about a 45 degree angle, and the booster rockets look like testicles. I can't find a photo or I'd post it.

[Robert Toy]

No, there's another one. It's even more phallic than the original-- sort of sticking up at about a 45 degree angle, and the booster rockets look like testicles. I can't find a photo or I'd post it.
You're not goig to believe this but I used in in my current WIP...:D

"“Excuse me Ms. Laura for the language. The tags have what looks like a set of orange balls with a tee tiny dick stickin out, which is like Florida, and they said MYA on one side of the balls and MEE on the other side of the balls – Duh!”

[WarrenP]

Big Red X for the image....

Is this it? The one on this page: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-052203a.html

[Robert Toy]

Big Red X for the image....

Is this it? The one on this page: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-052203a.html
Nope - this one that I made reference.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l253/RT_2006/tag2004.gif

[HeronW]

If you don't want it, don't buy it.